Review: Quinton’s Bar and Deli (2.5 stars out of 5 — tolerable to worth a visit)

Hunched over the dirty menu of a busy pub, I was probably putting way more deliberation than necessary into what to eat, especially since I only had an hour.

“Hmm. Should I be good and nibble on leafy greens or succumb to the magnetic pull of greasy comfort food,” I wondered. Then I saw the salad and realized I could do both.

The pub was Quinton’s, a no-fuss alehouse situated a short walk from the Capitol. The space, formerly the Grand Piano Bistro, has been redecorated with wall art that might look better in a college dorm room. But who cares? You don’t go to pubs for the stylish decor. Nor do you go to eat healthfully. You go for a pint and a plateful of beer-friendly food. And in that respect, Quinton’s menu holds up just fine.

Of course, there are plenty of salty fried snacks. There are wings, dips, nachos, chicken tenders and more. I had no problem putting down an order of the chili cheese nachos ($6) that was doused with chili con queso and menacing slices of bright green jalapeno.

For a quick lunch, you’ll probably want to browse straight down the menu to the salads, sandwiches and burgers. My crispy chicken salad ($8.45) was a hefty bowl of greens, and a bit spicy, too, because I asked for the buffalo treatment on the chicken, which means the fried pieces were also coated in a tangy hot sauce.

Sandwich options are plentiful and the hamburgers are quite good. There is the Quinton’s deluxe burger, which is your basic burger with the works, and there are also several more interesting options, like blue cheese bacon and the aloha, which features pineapple. I enjoyed the Western burger ($9.95), so called because in addition to bacon and grilled onions, it comes with barbecue sauce. All burgers come with diner’s choice of several types of fries.

If the aforementioned options are not sufficiently calorically endowed for you, the Quinton’s kitchen can also provide one of several twice-baked potato options that are loaded with sour cream, cheese, bacon and butter. There is the Hey Cheeseball potato with extra cheddar, the Fiesta with chili and one called the Bomb that apparently comes topped with anything the cooks can find in the fridge.

Finally, Quinton’s is the only place I know of in town to offer bread bowl soups: creamy potato bacon, broccoli and cheese, chili and Wisconsin cheese. I wasn’t tempted, but if they put clam chowder on the menu, it would be another story.

Quinton’s is a little unvarnished, a little juvenile in its ambiance, but a good East Village option for lunch or a pint after work nonetheless.